Clip cows and see the world. That could be the motto of 28-year-old Wexford man Gary Jones. Austria, Switzerland, United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Mexico – these are just some of the countries on the international showring circuit in which Gary Jones has plied his trade in the past 12 months. Indeed, he has visited most of the countries more than once. When he spoke to the Irish Farmers Journal in November, he was about to get on an airplane for Mexico for the second visit this year. Invitations to work in Australia and other countries have had to be turned down because they have clashed with shows elsewhere.

It all started with the home pedigree herd, the well-known Hollow Holstein Friesian herd in Gorey, Co Wexford. Along with his brothers, Gary prepared cows and heifers from the Hollow herd for the showring.

Other herd owners were obviously impressed with the presentation of the Jones cattle. Cow owners determined to give their animal every chance in the showring are obviously prepared to bring Gary halfway around the globe.

Gary mainly works on Holstein Friesian cows and heifers, but he has also worked with other breeds, including Jersey.

Standards

Showring standards and judging of dairy cattle are fairly uniform across the world’s great dairy shows. Gary’s preference is for the cows in Switzerland. This is based on the fact that cows in Switzerland are fed a lot of hay, resulting in the cows having more “open” ribs. This gives the groomer more scope to do his work.

Although Gary may fly into many international airports, he rarely gets a chance to do the tourist thing. Usually, it’s straight from one cow barn to the next. He starts work between 4.30am and 5am and tries to be finished at about 7pm.

He will clip about six cows on the first day and then come back and fine-tune the clipping again the next day before the animals enter the showring.

“Once the cows get used to the handling and grooming, they are relaxed and seem to love the action. Sure the cows are treated better than humans,” said the Wexford man.

Are there little tricks that the groomer can do that will fool the judges?

Apparently not. The animal has to have the assets in the first place if she is to gain any showring traction. Udders are crucial.

Tails are usually puffed up and can be dyed if the colour is not good. Under the skilled hands of the groomer, a plain cow or heifer can be turned into a creature of beauty.

However, this is not an easy job. Apart from the intensity of the clipping/grooming and the time pressure on the job, all of the global travelling also takes its toll.

In his travels Gary sees a few groomers that keep at it after their fortieth birthday.

And when he reaches that age, his dream would be to be milking a herd of cows of his own.